Shoes, socks or barefoot?

[Over50drumguy]

barefoot, or socks. I get introuble at formal gigs sometimes b/c I have to take my shoes off to play. I know it is mental, but it IS!!! If I can't feel the pedalboard, I have a hard time getting quicker strokes out, and I always feel off balance

at dive bar gigs, I will wear Teva's with my normal "metal" uniform, so I can quickly get them on and off. This bothers the hell out of our guitar player, but I don't care. It has become joke of the band now...part of our culture.

I’m in the same club . Years back I used to be 50/50 shoes or socks depending on where I was . Since starting back up 7 years ago I realized I can only play with socks or barefoot.
So for anything but a formal gig is white socks or barefoot depending on what footwear I’ve got on.
Formal type gigs it’s black socks and nobody notices anything , and if they did , nothings ever been said .
Playing in any footwear throws off my time, speed and feel. I’m 100% sure it has to do with back injuries and the condition of my back or more pointedly the nerve damage I have in my legs due to the injuries.
It’s like I can’t feel what the footboard is doing and everything feels clumsy , sluggish and awkward with any type of footwear on .
If the need should arise and for appearances shoes had to be worn , I guess I’m gonna have to go this route………

 

[MN02]

Shoes. Always. Shoes.

 

[I-P]

Shoes for gigs.
Practice is usually socks. (Weather/Season determines this)

 

[BobC]

Comfortable shoes; sneakers, dance shoes, loafers. I have played in cowboy boots and work boots (not recommended at all). I have played barefoot and in just socks. Not a fan.

I had a friend who used to work in the Capezio warehouse in Totowa, NJ. I'd go over there, and he'd throw a couple pair at a time out the back door for me when nobody was looking. I had a few pairs of white, and a couple pairs of red ones. They all wore out. Capezio no longer makes bright colored dance shoes, I'm afraid. I just got a pair of red sneakers that are working out pretty well.

 

[I-P]

Sticky floors in venues with bare feet.

 

[Macarina]

Long ago, bare feet, then socks for a long time… today, whatever shoes I’m wearing.

 

[Frankie Tomatoes]

Direct drive,socks cant play other than socks.Chain,socks or bare foot or light shoe.

 

[GretschedHive]

bear foot

Hardcore.

I think I play at least slightly better in sneakers, but because my drums are in the basement and I hate wearing shoes in the house, it's always either socks or barefoot.

 

[robthetimekeeper]

Flip flops.

 

[pgm554]

flip flops.

 

[jda]

Toe powder

 

[dwsabianguy]

I play in thin-soled shoes. Vans for a few years, Converse as of a month ago.

 

[Lefty Phillips]

Barefoot at home in the private studio. Cowboy boots everywhere else.

 

[bud7h4]

Wish I could play with shoes but if I can't feel the pedals it's like drumming with oven mitts on my hands.

 

[SYMBOLIC DEATH]

Puma F1 shoes for me. I play Axis pedals and the "A" machined into the foot board is very sharp, and I like my socks and feet intact.

 

[Benthedrummer]

Hardcore.

I think I play at least slightly better in sneakers, but because my drums are in the basement and I hate wearing shoes in the house, it's always either socks or barefoot.

That's just a picture of my bare feet.

A Hobbit.

 

[Benthedrummer]

I always use shoes.

Never socks nor bare feet.

My sneakers of choice are the Adidas UltraBoost.

 

[Skrivarna]

Shoes. I don't like the slide I get in socks.

Socks. I like the slide i get in socks.

 

[Rhythm666]

Vans for me

 

[timmdrum]

For me, definitely shoes- skin/socks on cold / sharply machined metal footboards are not a good feeling. Any sort of casual, low top, "old school", non-athletic (well, maybe in the 70s, but not anymore) sneaker is fine- Adidas Superstar ("shell toe"), Converse Chucks, Puma Suede, the non-modern skate design Vans (the slip-ons or the Keds-like laceups), etc. I can play in dress shoes if they're not the stiff patent leather ones. I've played fine in low-top Docs before but they're a bit stiff. Despite being from the coast and wearing flops or being barefoot most of late spring / summer / early fall, I can't play in flops.

Re: restroom then stepping on pedals- well, I typically don't touch the footboards with my hands- not even when packing/unpacking- so, not an issue. Besides, I don't touch my face or food without washing my hands first. I'm not a germophobe, but, ew.